Subcutaneous administration of interferon beta-1a for COVID-19: A non-controlled prospective trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recently, a new coronavirus spreads rapidly throughout the countries and resulted in a worldwide epidemic. Interferons have direct antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. Antiviral effects may include inhibition of viral replication, protein synthesis, virus maturation, or virus release from infected cells. Previous studies have shown that some coronaviruses are susceptible to interferons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of IFN-β-1a administration in COVID-19.

METHODS:

In this prospective non-controlled trial, 20 patients included. They received IFN-β-1a at a dose of 44 µg subcutaneously every other day up to 10 days. All patients received conventional therapy including Hydroxychloroquine, and lopinavir/ritonavir. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, virological clearance, and imaging findings recorded during the study.

RESULTS:

The mean age of the patients was 58.55 ± 13.43 years. Fever resolved in all patients during first seven days. Although other symptoms decreased gradually. Virological clearance results showed a significant decrease within 10 days. Imaging studies showed significant recovery after 14-day period in all patients. The mean time of hospitalization was 16.8 ± 3.4 days. There were no deaths or significant adverse drug reactions in the 14-day period.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings support the use of IFN-β-1a in combination with hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir in the management of COVID-19.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER:

IRCT20151227025726N12.

• Authors: Farzaneh Dastan, Seyed Alireza Nadji, Ali Saffaei, Majid Marjani, Afshin Moniri, Hamidreza Jamaati, Seyed MohammadReza Hashemian, Parvaneh Baghaei, Atefeh Abedini, Mohammad Varahram, Sahar Yousefian, Payam Tabarsi
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 85 Pg. 106688 (Aug 2020) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 32544867 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Drug Combinations
• lopinavir-ritonavir drug combination
• Lopinavir
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Ritonavir
• Interferon beta-1a

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Betacoronavirus (drug effects)
• COVID-19
• Coronavirus Infections (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Drug Combinations
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroxychloroquine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Injections, Subcutaneous
• Interferon beta-1a (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lopinavir (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Lung (diagnostic imaging)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pandemics
• Pneumonia, Viral (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy)
• Prospective Studies
• Ritonavir (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment